Interlocking mosaic



Nov. 23, 1948. B. cooLEY INTERLOCKING MOSAIC `2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig Filed Nov. '7, 1946V y /NvE/VTOR. Bur/7e Coo/ey BY Y GA" A/fy Patented Nov. 23, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE INTERLOCKING MOSAIC Burnell Cooley, San Francisco, Calif.

Application November 7, 1946, Serial No. 708,410

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to improvements in interlocking mosaic, and has particular reference to the forming of mosaic patterns through the interlocking of small sections of flexible material.

The principal object of this invention is to provide interlocking means which will result in the securing together of pieces of material of various shapes in such a manner that they will remain locked against accidental interlocking, and further will present a pleasing appearance.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which is economical to manufacture.

A still further object is to produce a device which permits flexibility `between the various units of the structure.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one of my segments.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of two segments secured together.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are top plan views of male and female finishing strips.

Figs. 6 and '7 show modied forms of my units.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of four units joined together, and

Fig. 9 illustrates the manner in which the male portion of the connecting member is joined with the female portion.

There are many articles which may be built up of a plurality of relatively flat units, which units when combined present a pleasing appearance. Such articles might include mosaic pictures, mosaic signs, mosaic letters, mosaic table mats, pocketbooks, etc.

It is my purpose to produce a unit which when combined with other units may be used to produce any structure as above suggested, and in accomplishing my invention I employ a relatively thin material such as plastic, which is capable of being flexed and one whichwill spring back into position upon being released, so that the male and female portions of my mosaic units may be locked one with the other and after being so locked cannot and will not separate of themselves.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a blank which may be of any desired shape, such as a rectangle or a triangle; however, the

adjoining sides must in al1 instances be substantiallystraight lines in contradistinction to curved lines.

In Fig. l I have shown the unit provided with a pair of male members 6 and 1 and a pair of female slots 8 and 9. As each male member is identical and each female slot is identical, but one will be described.

The male member consists of a tongue having ends Il and I2, which extend to each side 0f the connecting portion of the tongue I3.

The female slots each consist of a straight margin I4 and a curved margin I6.

At the end of the curved margin are formed slots Il and I8. The distance between the opposite ends of the slots I1 and I8, that is the distance between the points A and B is equal to the distance between the points C and and D of the male member when the tongue 6 of the male member is curved so as to enter the female slot, as shown in Fig. 9. The distance between the points C and D is also equal to the distance between the points E and F so as to lock therein and be held against sidewise movement when the two units are in locked position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the margins of each of the units are bent down wardly at an angle of substantially thirty degrees, which permits the units to be flexed with respect to each other until the overlapping parts engage each other.

In the modied forms shown in Figs. 6 and 7 various patterns may be built up so as to produce pleasing effects, and after the entire pattern has been completed edging strips, as shown in Figs.

4 and 5, may then be joined onto the pattern so i as to form a nished article.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a mosaic unit which has al1 of the advantages above set forth.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A mosaic unit comprising a blank 'having its margin formed of straight sides, tongues extending from two oi the straight sides, slots formed adjacent and parallel to the other of the straight sides of said blank, said slots each having a straight portion parallel with its adjacent blank margin and a curved portion opposing the straight side slots terminating in relatively nar- REFERENCES CITED row portions the length of the slot along tho The following references are of record in the curved line being identical with the length only fil@ 0f this Daterlt Of the Connecting 130111175 Of the tOIlglle Of the UNITED STATES PATENTS blank to the opposite end of the tongue substan- T tiauy as Shown kumber Name Date 1,156,444 Stevens Oct. 12, 1915 BURNELL COOLEY, 2,381,860 Baggott Aug. 14, 1945 

